“My disciple has no desires. If that is the case, then this disciple shall take his leave.”
He lowered his head, about to depart.
“Wait.”
Almost instantly, he halted his steps, as if he had already known the person in white behind him would call him back.
The thin lips, which had remained taut like a straight line, curved slightly, forming a subtle arc. He turned around with a clear expression, his gaze falling upon that pale and ethereal face, his smile deepening.
Even his low, pleasant voice was laced with cheerfulness.
“Does Master have anything else?”
It seemed even the verdant, fleshy thing was no longer an eyesore.
She played with the green creature, her fingers long and beautiful, her knuckles like jade. As she lowered her head, her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Her voice, distant, asked, “Do you blame me?”
Rong Hua froze, not expecting her to ask such a question. For a moment, he was unable to respond, “Why would I blame Master?”
Her expression remained unchanged, and she said indifferently, “I banished your beloved from the Qingyun Sect. Do you not blame me?”
Beloved?
Rong Hua’s mind was a mess. After a long, slow thought, he finally realized who Shen Yue was referring to.
Memories, long forgotten and ignored, seemed to shatter free from the ice, like lava meeting frost, two extreme emotions churning within his mind.
A sudden surge of fury instantly suppressed his reason. Rong Hua’s face turned frighteningly grim, “Then, does Master think I blame you?”
Shen Yue remained silent. Since she had asked, it meant she harbored suspicion.
Never had Rong Hua been so clear-headed, realizing that his position in Shen Yue’s heart was likely no different from that of any ordinary disciple.
He had been foolish, believing that when Shen Yue brought him the medicine for resurrection, she harbored feelings for him.
Yet now, Shen Yue ruthlessly shattered his beautiful illusions, forcibly and cruelly pulling him out of them.
Rong Hua chuckled internally, a sense of emptiness filling him for reasons unknown. His expression grew even colder, “Does Master believe I would blame you for someone else’s sake?”
He had never blamed Shen Yue from beginning to end. He only resented, resented that Shen Yue could so easily push him towards others, and resented that when he begged her in his most desperate state, she showed no sign of being moved.
If, even just for once, Shen Yue had said a kind word, he would not have descended into such madness.
It made him feel like a mere clown, performing a solo act while Shen Yue merely watched his joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, like a bystander.
Therefore, he only resented.
Shen Yue, hearing the villain say this, did not know what he was thinking.
In her mind, she naturally believed Rong Hua blamed her. Now that Rong Hua was willing to speak with her, it was probably only because she had saved Yin Jing.
However, Rong Hua’s words made her doubt. Did Rong Hua not blame her?
The next second, she heard the man say mockingly, “I truly hate you to death.”
Shen Yue: “……”
After speaking, the man left in a huff.
Leaving Shen Yue alone and bewildered.
The little tree spirit lay limply in her palm. Perhaps it liked her aura, emitting a soft, contented hum.
Shen Yue walked to the side of the desk where an out-of-place potted plant sat. It had lost its initial lush greenery; its leaves were withered and lifeless, unresponsive to any watering.
*Ying ying ying.*
The soft thing in her palm began to leak fluid again, as if remembering something sorrowful. The water was unstoppable, soon soaking her palm.
It clung stickily to her wrist, the spilled water dampening her sleeve.
*Ying ying ying*—it seemed to be conversing with Shen Yue.
Shen Yue couldn't understand what it was saying, but she could feel its deep sadness and agitation. So, she gently pulled it off her wrist and held it in her palm.
Gently comforting it, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
The leaking water was temporarily stemmed, and Shen Yue skillfully squeezed her soaked sleeve.
——
Penance Cliff.
In the bitter cold of deep winter, it was a world of ice and snow.
The biting wind slashed at the face like a knife. The trees stood bare, covered in icicles, all enveloped by the chilling atmosphere.
A Qingyun Sect disciple, clad in white, felt his face sting from the piercingly cold wind, even with his magical abilities. His hands and feet turned numb the moment he stepped onto Penance Cliff. How much worse must it be for Jiang Ling, who had been here for a year?
At this moment, Jiang Ling had lost all his former grace and unparalleled handsomeness.
He sat cross-legged on the steepest part of the cliff. His dark hair was matted with snow, even his eyelashes were slightly bent under the heavy snowflakes. His face was as pale as paper, his body almost buried in the snow.
Knowing that Senior Disciple’s spiritual consciousness was still present, the disciple stood a short distance away and bowed, “Senior Disciple, a year has passed. You may descend the mountain.”
The person buried in the snow showed no reaction, as still as an ice sculpture, devoid of any aura.
After a long silence with no response, the disciple hesitantly called out again, “Senior Brother? The Elder said that after descending the mountain, you are to cleanse yourself and then go to the Xin Qing Hall to confess your guilt.”
Jiang Ling, who had shown no reaction until now, slowly opened his eyes. His slightly pale eyes were now like turbid, dark water.
He resembled a frail old man, every movement exceptionally slow and difficult. Even the simple act of standing took him a long time before he could steady himself.
His tall, slender figure swayed slightly, as if he might fall at any moment.
The disciple couldn’t help but step forward, saying with concern, “Senior Disciple, are you alright?”
Jiang Ling had always been the role model for all the junior disciples of the Qingyun Sect, like a brother and a father, leading them in their growth.
Seeing Jiang Ling in this state, the disciple felt a surge of resentment. He couldn’t control his words, “Senior Disciple did nothing wrong. What is wrong with slaying demons and eradicating evil? By what right does Immortal Lord Xi Yu punish Senior Brother like this!”
Jiang Ling, who had seemed unresponsive, moved. His tall frame now exuded an immense pressure. The disciple, keenly sensing that something was amiss, felt his heart clench, daring not to breathe heavily.
The next moment, he saw Jiang Ling slightly turn his head, revealing his clean-cut profile.
His pale eyes now appeared incredibly cold.
His eyes seemed to contain a deep, suppressed storm.
It sent a shiver down the disciple’s spine.
He even felt the gaze was colder than when looking at demonic creatures.
This emotion, for the first time, appeared on the Senior Disciple’s usually gentle, bright, and mature face.
Jiang Ling’s voice was stern, “I did wrong. I deserve punishment.”